Otitis Media

Earaches in children are often the result of a condition known as otitis media. Adults can also get otitis media but it is much more common in children under the age of three, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The cause

Otitis media is an inflammation or infection in the middle ear, which is behind the eardrum. (Read about "The Ear and Hearing") The inflammation is caused by the buildup of fluid. Types of otitis media include:

• Otitis media with effusion (OME) - This is the name for fluid in the middle ear without other symptoms. This fluid often contains bacteria. (Read about "Microorganisms")
• Acute otitis media (AOM) - This refers to fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms of an ear infection.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Communications Disorders (NIDCD), 75 percent of children get otitis media by their third birthday. Half of them will have three or more episodes in the first three years of life. This is dangerous, because in the worst case they can result in hearing loss that can delay learning and speech development. (Read about "Hearing Loss")

The problem often begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other respiratory problems (Read about "Sore Throat and Strep Throat" "Tonsils and Adenoids" "The Common Cold") spread from the nose or the throat up the eustachian tube. The infections can be viral or bacterial. The tube, which is designed to drain fluids from the middle ear, then gets blocked. The infection can cause the middle ear to fill with fluid and get inflamed.

Symptoms & treatments

If you're an adult with otitis media, you can recognize the symptoms - earache, a sense of fullness in the ear and sometimes muffled hearing. But if you're a parent, you know that a one year old can't tell you exactly what the problem is. NIDCD says that's why it's important for parents to recognize the symptoms:

• unusual irritability
• unable to sleep
• pulling on one or both ears
• fever
• fluid coming out of an ear
• falling down in older children
• signs that a child isn't hearing things, like sitting very close to the TV

If you have an earache, or if you suspect that your child has an earache, contact your doctor. There are many things that can cause an earache, such as trauma or a foreign object. (Read about "Earache") A medical exam is needed to diagnose the cause. The doctor can check the ear to see if there is an infection and prescribe treatment. A course of antibiotics (Read about "Antibiotics") may be ordered to fight the infection, if it is bacterial. It is important to follow the directions carefully. If antibiotics really are needed, stopping them early could result in the infection returning. This is dangerous, because middle ear infections can lead to other problems such as ruptured eardrum. (Read about "Ruptured Eardrum") Some pain relievers may be offered during the acute period of the infection to give the child relief.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that if otitis media is persistent, the doctor may recommend inserting a small tube into the inner ear to help drain it.

Prevention

An ear infection itself is not contagious. The respiratory infection that gets it started, however, is contagious and can be avoided. (Read about "Respiratory System") Proper hygiene such as sneezing and coughing into tissues and then throwing the tissues away can help. NIDCD says there is evidence that breastfed (Read about "Breastfeeding") children have fewer cases of otitis media and the accompanying earaches. In addition the American Academy of Pediatrics magazine has reported that a Finnish study showed a 23 percent drop in the disorder when parents restrict use of a pacifier before sleep.

Related Information:

    Otitis Externa

    Primary Immunodeficiency

    Hearing/Speech/Smell/Taste Glossary